Tenison-regulating apparatus for pneumatic self-playing musical instruments.



L. B. DOMAN.

TENSION REGULATING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC SELF PLAYING MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7. I9I5.

1,232,664. Patented July 10, 1917.

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L. B. DOMAN.

TENSION REGULATING APPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC SELF PLAYING MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7| I915.

1,232,664. I Patented July 10, 1917.

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w 'IIIIIIII UllllTED TATES PATENT LE'WIS 33. DOMAN, 01* EAST SYRACUSE,NEVJ YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE AMPHION PIANO PLAYER CGMPANY. A GORPGRA'IIONOF NEW YORK.

TENSION-REGULATING AEPARATUS FOR PNEUMATIC SELF-PLAYING MUSICALINSTRUMENTS.

Application filed August 7, 1915.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS B. DOMAN, a citizen of the United States andresident of East Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State ofNew York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tension-Regulating Apparatus for Pneumatic Self- Playing Musical instruments, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tension regulatingapparatus for pneumatic self-playing musical instruments.

The main object is to provide a simple and efficient regulating devicecapable of being set by the operator for automatically maintaining anydesired degree of air tension in the main chest of the wind-inducingdevice within the capacity of such device, for playing a musicalcomposition with cor responding force according to the size of the roomin which the instrument is located, without in any way interfering withthe relative tone modulations as controlled by the expression regulatingmeans usually employed. in this class of players.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the apparatus willbe brought out in the following description.

In the drawings- Figure l is a perspective view of a tension regulatingdevice embodying the various features of my invention, and a portion ofa wind-inducing device connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan partly n section of the valve board andpneumatic for controlling the operation of the main governing pneumatic,a portion of the valve on the board being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig.2.

Fig. d is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the maintension regulating device, including the valve chest flap valve and itsoperating pneumatic.

This apparatus is adapted to be used for regulating the air tension 1nany suitable wind-inducing device, as A of a self-playing musicalinstrument having any of the well known forms of pneumatic actions andother appurtenances, not shown but ordinarily used in players of thischaracter, said tension regulating apparatus comprising a Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1917.

Serial No. 44,263.

valve chest 1 having a chamber 2 connected by a relatively large pipe 3directly to the air chest A of the wind-inducing device so that the airtension in the chamber 2 will be substantially the same as that in thewind chest A. One side (as the top) of the valve chest 1 is providedwith a plurality of atmosphere ports e' the outer ends of which arenormally covered by a flexible flap valve 5 which is yieldingly held atone end by one or more coil springs 6 while its opposite end is attachedto the free end of the movable side 7 of a suitable pneumatic S.

The ports l are preferably arranged to communicate with the chamber 2,but their inner ends are preferably covered by a body 9 of some porousmaterial, such as felt, for the purpose of muliling the sound of any aircurrents which may be set up in the chamber 2 by the opening of one ormore of the ports l.

The surface of the valve chest -l to which the valve 5- is applied ispreferably curved longitudinally, while the flexible valve 5 normallyfollows such curvature when closed, the object of the curvature being toenable the valve to open the ports l of each row, one at a time, and insequence, from the free end of the movable side of the pneumatic 8 whichnormally holds the corresponding end of the flap valve against its seatwhile the spring or springs 6 perform a similar function for theopposite end of the valve and also serve to keep the valve tight andflat across the ports d.

The pneumatic 8 extends lengthwise of and above the valve chest 1 and issecured thereto by brackets -10-, while the free end of the movable side7 is connected by a retracting spring l1 to a suitable anchorage -12upon the corresponding end of the valve chest 1, as shown more clearlyin Figs. 1 and 4, said pneumatic being connected by a pipe or conduitl3- to a port 1 l in a valve board 15. This valve board is provided withan additional port "16 connected by a conduit l7 to the main wind-chestA, bot-h of the ports 1-land 16 being arranged side by side and openingthrough the same side of the valve board, the port 1fl normally openingto the atmosphere, while the port 16 is normally covered by a D-valve l8 slidable along and upon the valve board to connect both ports whendesired. This valve is guided along a suitable way 19 and is connectedby a link 20 to the movable side of a relatively small pneumatic 2lwhich is connected by a conduit -22 to the main wind chest A and is,therefore, influenced by varying air tensions in said chest against theaction of a retracting spring 23, the latter being secured to anadjusting lever 24. to vary the tension of the spring for a purposepresently described.

This lever is adapted to be operated at will to increase or decrease thetension of the spring 23, the maximum tension o'f Which is suilicient tocounteract the influence of the maximum air tension in the pneumatic 2las produced by the maximum air tension in the main chest A of the windinducing device, so as to permit the pneumatic player action to operatewith a maximum force, or fortissim'o effects, in playing a musicalselection. On the other hand, the lever may be adjusted to diminish thetension of the spring 23 to any desired degree for causing the playeraction to operate with correspondingly diminished force through theseveral gradations from fortissimo to pianissimo.

F or example, assuming that the lever is adjusted to diminish thetension of the spring 23 to just sufiicient for retracting the movableside of the pneumatic .21 when the player is at rest, then it is evidentthat the slightest air tension produced by the action of thewind-inducing device in the main wind chest A will cause a partialcollapse of the pneumatic 21; against the action of the spring 23suflicient to cause the valve -l8 to cover both ports 14. and l6,thereby placing the pneumatic S in communication With the main tensionchest A and causing the operation of the movable side of thelastnainedpneumatic against the action of its retracting spring -11 toopen the flap valve 5. i

This opening of the valve 5 to uncover one or more of the ports insequence Will place the main Wind-chest in communication with theatmosphere, thereby limiting the degree of air tension which may beproduced in the main chest to a relatively low degree and causing theplayer action to operate with a correspondingly subdued force forpian'issimo effects.

Again, if the lever 2l is adjusted to increase the tension of the springto a de gree between its possible maximum and minimum tensions, it isevident that it will require a greater degree of air tension in thewind-chest A and pneumatic 21 to operate said pneumatic sufliciently toshift the valve l8 to cover both ports, and as soon as this result isaccomplished the pneumatic 8 will be instantly placed in communicationWith the main chest A and, together with the valve 5, will be operatedto uncover one or more of the ports -1 in sequence to establish a higherlimit of tension in said main chest, which, of course, Will operate thepneumatic player action With a corresponding degree of force betweenpianissii'no and fortissimo.

In like manner, the lever may be adjusted to other positions fortensioning the spring 23 to greater or less degrees for causing acorresponding limitation of the maximum degree of air tension capable ofbeing produced in the wind-chest A, and thus permitting the device to beset to assure the playing of a musical selection at or below any desireddegree of force without in any way afiecting the tone modulationsproduced bythe controlling nie'chanisni usually employed in connectionwith this class of players, it being understood that the maximum forcewith which the player action operates depends upon the air tension inthe main chest A of the Wind-inducing device, and that this tension iscontrolled by the tension of the spring 23 as produced by the adjustmentof the lever 24", but it is evident that the spring ll instead of beingof just suffic'ient tension to retract the movable side ofthe'pneuniatic 8*, may have an increa ed tension just suflicient toallow the operation of the pneumatic 8 under comparatively low airtension in the wind chest A 'suilicient to cause the player action to beoperated with pianissimo effect, under which conditions the valve 18might be adjusted to connect both ports for pianissi no playing orreturned to its normal position leaving the port l l uncovered forfortissinio playr in is also evident that various other forms of devicesmight be used to accomplish the same result, namelyi of limiting the airtension in the wind-chest to any predetermined degree during the playingof a musical selection, and, therefore, I do not limit myself to theeXact structure shown and described. v

What I claim is: j

1. In a tension-regulating device for pneumaticactions, the combinationwith a windin'ducing device, of a pneumatic communieating therewith andoperated by air tension therein above a certain degree, and meanscontrolled by said pneumatic for ad- Initting atmospheric air to saiddevice when the tension therein exceeds said degree.

2; In a tension regulating device for selfplaying musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a windinducing device, andautomatic means including a pneumatic operated by air tension in themain chest above a predetermined degree for reducing such air tension toor below said degree.

3. In a tension regulating device for self playing musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, apneumatic operated by air tension in said device above a certain degree,and means controlled by said pneumatic for keeping the air tension insaid chest at'or below a predetermined degree, said means having aportion thereof adjustable at will to cause such tension to bemaintained at or below a different degree.

l. In a tension regulating device for selfplaying musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, anatmosphere port communicating with said chest, a valve for said port,and pneumatic means operated by an increase of air tension in the mainchest above a predetermined degree for operating said valve to restorethe tension to or below such degree.

5. In a tension regulating device for selfplaying musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, anatmosphere port communicating with the main chest, a valve for saidport, a pneumatic for opening said valve, and means for placing saidpneumatic in communication with the main chest to cause it to open thevalve when the air tension exceeds a predetermined degree.

6. In a tension regulating device for selfplaying musical instruments,the combina tion with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, meansfor opening and closing communication between the main chest and theatmosphere including a pneumatic, and means operated by an increased airtension in the main chest above a predetermined degree for placing thepneumatic in communication with the main chest and causing it to operateautomatically.

7. In a tension regulating device for self playing musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, asupplemental chest in direct communication with the main chest andprovided with an atmosphere port, a valve for said port, a pneumatic foroperating the valve, separate ports connected,respectively, to the mainchest and to said pneumatic, a slide valve covering the main chest portand adjustable to cover and uncover its com panion port, and pneumaticmeans operated by the air tension in the main chest above apredetermined degree for adjusting the valve.

8. In a tension regulating device for selfplaying musical instruments,the combination with a main wind chest of a wind-inducing device, anatmosphere port communicating with the main chest, a valve for saidport, a pneumatic for operating said valve, separate ports connected,respectively, to the main chest and to the pneumatic, a slide valvecovering the main chest port and adjustable to cover and uncover itscompanion port, pneumatic means operated by the air tension in the mainchest above a predetermined degree for adjusting the slide valve, aretracting spring for the last-named pneumatic, and means operable atwill for varying the tension of the spring to cause a correspondingvariation of the maximum air tension in the main chest.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of July,1915.

LEWIS B. DOMAN.

Witnesses:

MARGARET M. BROWN, C. W. BLANDING.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

